Some time over last weekend, 30 of the trees along one side of Alveston Drive, leading to the community centre, were snapped off. On Monday night, the trees on the other side of the road met a similar fate. Meander Valley Council executive officer David Pike said that he had only just written to Mr Shiratori to thank him for his latest donation of trees. "He'd be devastated if he knew of this vandalism," he said. In 1990, Mr Shiratori, president of the Shiratori Flour Mills in Japan, donated 200 flowering Japanese cherry trees to the then Deloraine Council. The trees were officially handed over in early 1991 when a Japanese delegation visited the area. One hundred of the small, de- ciduous, graceful trees with arching branches and almond-scented single blush-white flowers were planted on the eastern bank of the Meander River - 50 on the west- ern side and the remaining 50 up Alveston drive. The trees were planted with the assistance of children from the Deloraine Primary School and Our Lady of Mercy Convent School. The trees along the riverbank would be a feature for the Deloraine on the Move festival when Emu Bay Rd would be closed to coincide with the cherry tree blossoming, Mr Pike said. Mr Shiratori visited Deloraine and inspected the trees on September 6, 1991, and local artist Tony Smibert donated one of his paintings as a gift of appreciation for the tree donation. Mr Shiratori donated a further 200 trees during the mid-1990s and this year gave an additional 100 trees to Deloraine. "In 12 years, Mr Shiratori has donated 500 trees," Mr Pike said.
BLOSSOMING NO MORE: Meander Valley Council executive officer David Pike with damaged cherry trees along Alveston Drive, Deloraine. Picture: PETER LORD
Some time over last weekend, 30 of the trees along one side of Alveston Drive, leading to the community centre, were snapped off.
On Monday night, the trees on the other side of the road met a similar fate.
Meander Valley Council executive officer David Pike said that he had only just written to Mr Shiratori to thank him for his latest donation of trees.
"He'd be devastated if he knew of this vandalism," he said.
In 1990, Mr Shiratori, president of the Shiratori Flour Mills in Japan, donated 200 flowering Japanese cherry trees to the then Deloraine Council.
The trees were officially handed over in early 1991 when a Japanese delegation visited the area.
One hundred of the small, de- ciduous, graceful trees with arching branches and almond-scented single blush-white flowers were planted on the eastern bank of the Meander River - 50 on the west- ern side and the remaining 50 up Alveston drive.
The trees were planted with the assistance of children from the Deloraine Primary School and Our Lady of Mercy Convent School.
The trees along the riverbank would be a feature for the Deloraine on the Move festival when Emu Bay Rd would be closed to coincide with the cherry tree blossoming, Mr Pike said.
Mr Shiratori visited Deloraine and inspected the trees on September 6, 1991, and local artist Tony Smibert donated one of his paintings as a gift of appreciation for the tree donation.
Mr Shiratori donated a further 200 trees during the mid-1990s and this year gave an additional 100 trees to Deloraine.
"In 12 years, Mr Shiratori has donated 500 trees," Mr Pike said.
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